Cradle.



- PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

W. "W. TEMPLES.

CRADLE.

APPLIGATIOE- FILED NOV.14.1907.

2 MEETS-SHEET 1.

6E. WASHINGTON. z: c.

PATENTED MAY 26, 1908. W. W. TBMPLES.

CRADLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FUN 111111) TAT1ES PATENT @FlFlhCE.

WILLIAM W. TEMPLES, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

CRADLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W. TEMPLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and. State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cradles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in cradles and consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

One object of the invention is to provide a metallic cradle which will be simple and durable in construction and comparatively inexpensive to produce and which may be conveniently set up for use and knocked down or taken apart to permit it to be conveniently stored away or packed for transportation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cushioning stop device for limiting the swinging movement of the body of the cradle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fanning device which will be actuated by the swinging or rocking movement of the cradle body.

The above and other objects of the invention which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, are attained in its preferred embodiment illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cradle; Fig. 2 is a detail vertical longitudinal section through the upper end of the cradle; Figs. 3 and 4 are detail horizontal sections taken on the planes indicated by the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the stop device for limiting the swinging movement of the cradle body; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the lock for the cradle body; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the bearings for the fan rod or shaft; Fig. 8 is a similar view of the crank loop or arm at the lower end of the fan shaft; and Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view through the fan clamp.

My improved cradle comprises a pivoted body 1 removably mounted between standards or posts 2, 3 of a knock down supporting frame. The latter comprises the two posts and a centrally disposed connecting rail 4 having at its opposite ends coupling members 5 to detachably engage coupling members 6 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 14, 1907.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Serial No. 402,165.

fixed upon the posts 2, 3, as will be readily understood upon reference to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. The head and foot posts 2, 3 are similar in construction, the former, however, is of greater height as shown, but each is formed from two pipe or rod sections which have straight parallel upper portions and oppositely projecting and downwardly and outwardly curved lower portions 7, which latter provide supporting feet. These feet are united by curved braces 8 and in their lower ends are provided casters 9 of the usual form. The two sections or members of each post are united not only by the brace 8 and the rail coupling 6 but also by a bearing 10 and an ornamental cap 1 1, the latter being arranged upon the upper extremities of the parallel upper portions of said sections. The bearing 10 is in the form of a double collar or sleeve arranged upon the two sections of the post and fixed thereon a suitable distance above the coupling member 6 so as to support the pivot or journal at one end of the cradle body 1.

The cradle body 1 is in the form of an open metal frame of substantially semi-cylindrical form constructed of pipe sections and rods; and comprising two upper side bars 12, a centrally arranged bottom bar 13, two upper end bars 14 and two substantially semi-circular lower end bars or members 15. The ends of the parts 12, 1 1 and 15 are united at the four corners of the body by couplings 16 and the ends of the bottom bar 13 are united to the central portions of the curved end members 15 by coupling or clamping plates 17 secured upon the opposite sides of the lower ends of centrally disposed upright end bars 18 which support the pivots or ournals for the cradle as presently explained. The upper ends of the upright bars 18 are provided with coupling or clamping plates 19 which are similar to the plates 17 and which engage the central portions of the upper end bars 14. as clearly shown in Fig. Arranged between the members 141, 15 of each end of the cradle body are parallel upright rods 20 and connecting the bars 12 and 13 are a plurality of semi-circular rods 21 arranged in parallel relation at suitable intervals as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

denotes the pivots or journals for the body of the cradle. These pivots are cylindrical in form and have their inner ends screw threaded and arranged in vertical slots 23 formed in the upright end bars 18. Adjustably fixed upon the central portion of each pivot 22 by means of a set screw 24 is a collar or sleeve having at one end a flattened or reduced portion 26 to enter the slot 23 in the upright bar 18 and arranged upon the threaded end of the pivot is a clamping nut 27 which when tightened against the inner face of the upright bar 18 is adapted to adjustably mount the pivot 22 on the upright bar 18 as will be readily understood upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The cylindrical outer ends of the two pivots 22 are adapted to project between the two sections or members of the posts 2-, 3 and to rest and rotate upon the bearings 10 as shown.

In order to limit the swinging or rocking movement of the cradle body I provide the cushioning stop device shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This device comprises a metal plate or strap 28 having a curved central portion engaged with the bottom bar 13 and formed at its ends with downturned portions 29. Said plate is secured upon the bottom bar 13 by a clip 30 and bolts or the like passed through it and said clip on opposite sides of the bar 13 as clearly shown in 5. The ends 29 of the plate are adapted to alternately strike cushions or buffers 32 of rubber or the like arranged upon the opposite ends of a transverse rod 33 slidably mounted in the upper ends of brackets 34 secured upon the opposite sides of the center rail 4 by a bolt or the like 35. Upon each end of the sliding rod 33 between one of the brackets and one of the cushioning heads or buffers 32 is a coil spring 36 adapted to check the inward sliding movement of the end of the rod upon which it is arranged so that when the adjacent end 29 of the plate 28 strikes said end of the rod the swinging movement of the cradle in that direction will be checked without shock or jar. It will be noted that the springs 36 not only cushion the swinging movement of the cradle body but also serve to actuate the same and hence make it run more easily.

In order to hold the body of the cradle against swinging movement I preferably employ the lock device shown in Fig. 6. This device comprises a transverse pivot rod 37 arranged in a bearing bracket 38 secured in an upright position on the rail 4. On one end of said pivot 37 is a finger piece 39 and upon its other end is a forked portion 40 which when swung to an upright position is adapted to receive the bottom bar 13 of the cradle body so that the latter cannot swing, and which when swung downwardly to a horizontal position is adapted to disengage said bar 13 so as not to interfere with the movement of said body.

In connection with the cradle I preferably provide an automatic fanning device which consists of a fan shaft or red 41 of substantially right angular form on the upper or horizontal end of which is an adjustably mounted clamp 42 for a fan body 43. This clamp 42 consists of a metal plate bent upon itself to provide a cylindrical bearing portion to slide upon the rod or shaft 41 and two end portions adapted to receive the fan 43 between them. The latter is secured in the clamp and the clamp is retained in an adjusted position upon the rod or shaft 41 by a clamping screw 44 as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The vertical portion of the fan shaft is arranged upon the front face of the head post 2 and is rotatable in bearings 45 formed upon clamping sleeves 46 which are provided upon one of the sections of said post 2. Two of the bearings 45 are preferably provided and each is formed integral with the clamping sleeve 46, which latter is split and formed with apcrtured ends to receive a clamping bolt 47 as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

On the lower end of the fan shaft 41 is ad justably mounted a crank arm or loop 48 consisting of a plate or collar apertured to receive the shaft and adjustably secured there on by a set screw 49, and having projecting from it substantially U-sliaped loop or bale 50 adapted to loosely receive a pin or arm 51 projecting vertically from the collar or sleeve 25 on the pivot 22 at the head of the cradle body. It will be noted upon reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 8 that when the cradle body is rocked the pin or arm 51 will oscillate and actuate the crank loop or arm on the fan shaft 41 so that the latter will be rocked to swing the fan 43 transversely above the cradle body. When the fan is not desired it may be readily thrown out of operation by simply sliding the shaft 41 upwardly until the loop 50 disengages the pin 51 and then swinging the shaft to one side so that the loop will not reengage the pin when the shaft is again lowered.

From the foregoing it will be noted that my invention provides a cradle which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction and at the same time exceedingly durable. By constructing the supporting frame of the two end posts and a single connecting rail and detachably connecting said parts and mounting the cradle between them so that it may be readily removed, it will be seen that when it is desired to store it away or transport it it may be quickly and easily knocked down or taken apart and its parts packed together to occupy but comparatively little space.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A cradle comprising head and foot posts, each having spaced upright members bent outwardly at their lower ends to provide spaced feet, braces uniting the lower portions of said feet, caps uniting the upper ends of the spaced members of the posts, socketed coupling members uniting the spaced members of the post adjacent to the upper portions of their feet, a center rail, coupling members upon the ends of the rail and having heads to enter the sockets in the coupling members upon the posts, and a swinging body removably mounted between said posts.

2. A cradle comprising head and foot posts, each having spaced members, bearing blocks uniting said spaced members, a center rail arranged between said posts and having its ends detachably connected thereto, a cradle body, and longitudinally projecting pivots upon the ends of said body and adapted to project between the spaced members of the posts and to rest upon said bearing blocks.

3. A cradle comprising head and foot posts, each composed of similar sections hav ing parallel upper portions and oppositely projecting lower portions to provide spaced feet, a brace uniting said feet, means uniting the parallel portions of said sections of the posts, a center rail arranged between the posts and detachably connected thereto, bearings arranged upon the parallel portions of the sections of said posts, a cradle body, and pivots upon the ends of the latter adapted to project between the parallel portions of the sections of the posts and to rest upon said bearings.

i. A cradle comprising a supporting frame, bearings at the ends of the latter, a cradle body consisting of upper side and end bars, curved lower end bars, a central bottom bar, couplings uniting said bars, curved connecting rods arranged between the bottom bar and the upper side bars, rods arranged between the upper and lower end bars, centrally arranged uprights between said upper and lower end bars and pivots carried by said uprights and engaged with the bearings upon the supporting frame.

5. A cradle comprising a supporting frame, a swinging body therein, a double, springactuated buffer or stop slidable transversely upon the frame and projections carried by the body and adapted to engage the opposite ends of said buffer or stop.

6. A cradle comprising a supporting frame, a swinging body therein, a guide upon the frame, a rod slidable in said guide, cushioning heads at the opposite ends of said rod, coil springs arranged on the rod between its heads and its guide, and a transverse plate or member secured to the body and having ends to engage the cushioning heads upon said rod.

7. A cradle comprising a supporting frame having head and foot posts united by a central rail, a swinging cradle body between said posts and provided with a bottom bar, a buffer or stop arranged upon the central rail and a projecting arm or member carried by the bottom rail of the body and adapted to engage said bufier or stop.

8. A cradle comprising a supporting frame having head and foot posts and a central connecting rail, a swinging cradle body between said posts and provided with a bottom bar and a pivoted lock mounted upon the central rail and having a forked portion to engage the bottom bar of the cradle body to hold the latter against movement.

9. A cradle comprising a supporting frame, a swinging body therein, a guide upon the frame, a rod slidable in said guide and having heads at its ends, a spring or springs for cushioning said rod and means upon the body to engage the heads or ends of said rod.

10. A cradle comprising a supporting frame, a swinging body therein, a guide upon the frame, a rod slidable in said guide and having heads at its ends, a spring or springs for cushioning said rod and a transverse plate or member secured to the body and having portions to engage the heads or ends of said rod.

In testimony whereof I hereunto my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM WV. TEMPLES.

lVitnesses:

BEN DAVIS, JAs. B. DRAKE. 

